Arsenal’s shrewd move for Christian Norgaard
Christian Nørgaard’s arrival at Arsenal flew under the radar, but he could soon become an important figure for Mikel Arteta’s team.
Amid the speculation around the pursuit of a new number nine and the impatience over the signing of Martin Zubimendi, it was easy to miss Arsenal welcoming Christian Nørgaard to the club. That is understandable. The 31-year-old won’t be the most eye-catching addition the Gunners will make this summer, but he could be the smartest.
For an initial fee of £10m (plus £2m in add-ons), there is plenty to like about Arsenal’s signing of Nørgaard. The Dane was a central figure for a Brentford team that has consistently punched above their weight in the Premier League. Arsenal know what they’re getting from a player who has started 120 games in the last four seasons.
And that’s surely part of what made Nørgaard so attractive to the Gunners. Only two Arsenal players have started more Premier League matches than the Danish midfielder over the same period of time. For a team that has been hit hard by injuries in each of the last two seasons, availability is something they need more of.
Of course, Arsenal could have found countless players who have been simply available in recent seasons, but Nørgaard has plenty more to offer. He is comfortable on the ball, as proven by the fact he was Brentford’s most prolific passer in midfield last season, averaging 36.7 accurate passes per 90 minutes.
While it’s true Nørgaard’s primary role was at the base of Thomas Frank’s midfield, he was also effective at moving the ball forward – only Mikel Damsgaard (27) completed more progressive passes for Brentford last season than Nørgaard (15). As a possession piece, the 31-year-old will slot into Mikel Arteta’s central unit well.
Out of possession is where Nørgaard could truly give Arsenal something different, though. Remarkably, the Dane has made more interceptions (201) and ball recoveries (844) than any other player in the Premier League since the start of the 2021/22 season. Nørgaard reads the game clearly and will offer a strong defensive presence at the Emirates Stadium.
“He has proven leadership skills and a strong character which will be invaluable to our squad,” said Arteta when the signing of Norgaard from Brentford was confirmed. “He is a strong midfielder with excellent tactical awareness and versatility. He also has physical presence and intelligence which will give us added depth and balance.”
Zubimendi will start the 2025/26 season as Arsenal’s first-choice at the base of the midfield. The Spain international has been signed to be the Gunners’ Rodri with the theory being that his security in possession will afford more freedom to the likes of Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice further up the pitch. There’s a good reason Arsenal spent so long chasing Zubimendi.
To win the Premier League title for the first time since the days of Arsene Wenger, though, Arsenal will need options in every area of their squad and Nørgaard can expect to receive a lot of game time over the course of the campaign with the Gunners also competing on a continental front in the Champions League.
Set pieces is another area where Nørgaard can contribute. Arsenal are already one of the most effective teams from corner kicks and freekicks in the Premier League and their new Danish midfielder should make them even more potent with Nørgaard a serious threat in the air – only Ben White (66.7%), Nathan Collins (63%) and William Saliba (62%) won a higher percentage of aerial duels in the Premier League last term.
This summer is a pivotal one for Arsenal. Having finished second in each of the last three Premier League seasons, they need to find areas where they can make gains to close the gap on top spot. This led the Gunners to target a new number nine with Viktor Gyökeres the target they have reportedly settled on. The Swede could join in the coming days.
Noni Madueke is another played believed to be on his way to the Emirates Stadium this summer as Arteta attempts to ease the reliance on Bukayo Saka. A large percentage of Arsenal supporters are unhappy about the targeting of the Chelsea winger, but he could give their team the sort of depth boasted by title rivals like Liverpool and Manchester City.
In Nørgaard, though, Arsenal have signed a player who both reflects what they already are as a team and points them in the direction they want to head in. If the Gunners finish the 2025/26 season with silverware in-hand, it wouldn’t be surprising to lean that the Dane has made a sizeable contribution. His impact could be profound.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can follow every Arsenal game with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.